‘Tragic and devastating:’ Kanata auto shop remembers young employee killed by tire rupture

A worker died after a tire ruptured in a Kanata auto body shop. As CTV’s Austin Lee reports, the Ministry of Labour is investigating.

A Kanata auto shop is remembering an employee who died in a tragic workplace incident last weekend as a passionate hard worker who loved what he did.

First responders were called to Kanata Wheels on Edgewater Street on Saturday at approximately 1:40 p.m.

Police say the employee was working in a mechanical bay at the auto shop when a tire ruptured, causing life-threatening injuries. The employee, a man in his early 20s, later died in hospital.

In a statement to CTV News, Tariq In’airat, owner of Kanata Wheels, confirmed their employee Jordan Junger died in the incident. He had been working at the shop for over five years.

In’airat described him as “a very hard worker, very passionate” and “loved what he was doing.”

“Losing Jordan due to a freak accident at the shop last Saturday was tragic and devastating,” In’airat wrote.

“According to the engineers at the Ministry of Labour, the steel belts around the bead shifted relative to the rubber while Jordan was mounting a brand-new tire. This shift caused the tire to rupture, resulting in the tragic accident.”

The business says it will be holding fundraisers, rallies and events in his honour, as he was often the first one involved in their annual charity events.

“As we cope with this, we do ask for everyone’s prayers and sympathy regarding the situation, while remembering the positive stories and impact Jordan brought into our lives,” In’airat says.

“The support and love received from the public and the car community have been very heartwarming and are greatly appreciated by everyone involved.”

Police add the incident is not believed to be suspicious.

“Our thoughts are with the young man’s family, friends and colleagues,” Ottawa police said in an email.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour says it was notified of a workplace fatality at Kanata Wheels and was investigating the incident.

Police say they are supporting the Ministry of Labour with the investigation.

Similar incidents are rare

“This is devastating to the family, devastating for friends, just devastating for our city in general when there’s a life lost as the result of a workplace fatality,” said Sean McKenny, president of the Ottawa & District Labour Council.

“So sad, so unnecessary, so frustrating. There are all kinds of words that come into play. We have a young man in his 20s with their life yet to be lived that was snuffed out as the result of something that happened at the workplace.”

Across town at Super Tire on Bank Street, tire technicians are well aware of the risks that come with the job.

“It’s pretty much a bomb. You’re pretty much inflating a balloon that is more resistant, but they pop. They are dangerous,” said tire technician Ygor Azevedo.

“We have never had anything like that happen, but we have seen things on the news.”

Still, these types of incidents are highly unusual in Ontario and across Canada.

“It’s really rare. I have only heard once before this accident and it was about ten years ago,” said Azevedo.

As police assist the Ministry of Labour in its investigation, McKenny says police should be conducting their own investigation.

“They also need to ensure that their investigators are taking a look at the whole of the project. The whole of the workplace fatality from a different lens and that is key and that is so very important,” he said.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Austin Lee

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